“Once the amnesty period ends, pilots who have failed to disclose their use of antidepressants on previous medical applications will once again be subject to prosecution if the FAA becomes aware of the unreported medication usage,” said AOPA Director of Medical Certification Gary Crump.

Pilots who apply for any class of medical certificate between April 5, 2010, and Sept. 30, 2010, will be exempt from prosecution for flying with unreported SSRI use if they disclose a history of antidepressant use, the underlying condition for which the medication was prescribed, and visits to health professionals in connection with the antidepressant use or underlying condition.

Applicants may now qualify for special issuance if they take an SSRI for depression and provide the required reports and consultations, which include the results of neurocognitive psychological tests. AOPA provides members with a detailed discussion of the new rule in its subject report.